Cuff structure



June 23, 1964 F. SANDERS 3,137,861

CUFF STRUCTURE Filed April 10, 1962 INVENTOR FRED SANDERS AT TORNEYS'.

United States Patent Office 3,137,861 Patented June 23, 1964 3,137,861 CUFF STRUCTURE Fred Sanders, 147 W. 57th St., New York, N.Y. Filed Apr. 10, 1962, Ser. No. 186,521 7 Claims. (Cl. 2-.-123) This invention relates generally to wearing apparel and more particularly to sleeve structures for use in connection with shirts, blouses, raincoats, etc.

It has been generally recognized, for instance, in shirt making that ordinary one-ply sleeve cuffs which have only one layer are buttoned for closing same and are then made of less expensive materials. The trend, however, is more and more to employ so-called French-type cuffs attached to shirt sleeves in order to increase their sales value and to enhance the appearance of such shirts or like wearing apparel. One has recognized that French style cuffs heretofore used on more expensive shirts always require the employment of cuff links, which is sometimes inconvenient and cumbersome for the wearer, in particular on trips and when it becomes necessary to change the shirt during the day or on extended journeys.

The present invention is directed to a French type cuff attachable to a shirt sleeve and the like, whereby this cuff is so constructed that, although of the French type consisting of the double-ply or fold, such cuff structure may nevertheless be applied to and worn with shirt sleeves without inserting any cuff links through the button holes. The cuff of a shift or blouse generally has three layers, namely an outer layer, an inner layer and an intermediate or stiffening layer. The intermediate layer is generally made of coarse interlining, so as to impart body to the cuff structure. In its unfolded condition the cuff body is of elongated shape and is folded once about a median fold line or crease and is generally provided with button holes which register with each other when the cuff layers are placed in superposed position. For closing the cuff through these button holes extraneous means are then threaded therethrough to maintain the cuffs in closed position.

The present invention refers to a French-type cuff which is not only simpler in construction, but provides also concealed means for tying together the layers constituting the cuff in its position of wear without requiring any cuff links or like connectors and without having the disadvantages inherent in the known French-type cuff structures.

In a preferred embodiment a button-carrying tab is employed for engaging a single button hole by means of one button only for releasably maintaining the Frenchtype cuff structure in quasi barrel-shaped fashion in such position of wear. Consequently, there are a number of advantages achieved based on a new concept of the construction of this French-type cuff according to the invention.

It is another important feature of the invention to provide means contributing to a greatly improved cuff structure which may be readily and easily laundered and ironed, as its specific parts are not exposed to rough handling and will not be easily damaged, the aforesaid tab with its button being located rather remote from the ironing area of the cuff body itself.

It is, therefore, a primary object of the present invention to provide means affording a cuff structure of the French type for use in connection with wearing apparel in which the cuff body is substantially devoid of a plurality of button holes and exhibits a layer face which may now be used to carry decorative designs (embroidered initials or not) for exposure at the outer surface of the cuff, which assumes a barrel-type configuration in its position of wear.

It is another object of the present invention to provide means facilitating the production of cuffs of the French type for wearing apparel which may be reversible, if desired, the exposed outer surface layer of the cuff assuming any desirable and esthetic shape.

A further advantage of the present invention resides in the provision of means lending themselves to easy buttoning and unbuttoning of sleeve or shirt cuffs without the need of cuff links which are very often lost or lead to inconveniences for the wearer of the shirt.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide means leading to an efficacious construction of a very convenient shirt sleeve cuff which renders the buttoning and unbuttoning of the cuff very simple and effortless.

The sleeve body itself has a longitudinal crease about which said body is folded, which is then formed about an imaginary line perpendicular to the crease, so that the body provides upper and inner layers, respectively. One of said layers, and in particular the outer layer, is provided with a single button hole on the one surface or side thereof remote from the tab means which is sewn to the other side edge of the outer layer, the tab means extending beyond the outer layer and being provided with a button or buttons, so that said button becomes engageable with said button hole when the tab means is in engagement with openings provided at side edges of the inner layer to retain all parts of the cuff in condition of wear.

The various features of novelty which characterize the invention are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this specification. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and specific objects attained by its use, reference should be had to the accompanying drawing and descriptive matter in which there are illustrated and described preferred embodiment of the invention.

In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a cuff in open and developed position, parts being broken away;

FIG. la is a fragmentary view of the cuff of FIG. 1 with cut-outs in the inner cuff layer somewhat modified;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the cuff of FIG. 1 in open position of wear as seen toward the crease;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the cuff of FIG. 2 in partly closed position; and

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the cuff of FIG. 1 as seen from the rear toward the front crease in closed position of wear.

Referring now to the drawing in greater detail, there is disclosed a cuff body 10 made of fabric material having three material strata, namely the uppermost stratum 11, the lowermost stratum 12, and the intermediate stratum 13, respectively. A fold line or crease 14 is provided about which the cuff body is folded in longitudinal direction, whereby a top or upper layer 15 and an inner layer or lower layer 16 are created. When folding layer 15 on top of layer 16 about crease 14, as seen in FIG. 2, a cuff is obtained which is folded and designated by numeral 20. The upper layer has a tab 17 provided with a button 18 at its outermost end, which is adapted to be threaded through the button hole 19 in a manner later described. The

lower layer 16 is provided at its opposite lateral end edges with notches or openings 21, 22 which, when the cuff is in the condition of wear, are in registry with each other and each may be of a width corresponding to the width of the intermediate portion of tab 17 so that the tab engages the respective walls 21a, 21b, 22a, 22b, defining these cut-outs or openings 21, 22 when the cuff is shaped about fold line 25, as it is more clearly seen in FIG. 3. In this position, the button 18 may then be readily engaged by the single button hole 19 (FIGS. 3 and 4) whereby the button 18 enters said button hole in outer layer 15 from below the underface 15c of said outer layer 15 and comes to lie uppermost, as seen in FIG. 4. In this latter position the cuff is assembled to assume barrel shape in the position of wear (FIG. 4) where the other face or extremity of the outer layer 15 is exposed to view with an indicated monogram, marking or indicia 26 for which, e.g., initials or embroidery of any kind may be substituted or clips may be attached to the area 26a as the same is completely devoid of any button hole. Button hole 19 and exposed button 18 engaged thereby are seen on the opposite area 26b. Button 18 may, of course, be replaced by any fancy ornament, if desired.

In order to unbutton the cuff, all that has to be done is to move button 18 out of the button hole 19 as seen in FIG. 3, whereafter the tab 17 is readily disengaged from the openings or cut-outs 21, 22 and permits immediate complete opening of the cuff, as seen in FIG. 2. This particular construction is preferred to possible other embodiments which may show the French-type cuff in somewhat modified construction, in which, e.g., the outer panel 15 may be connected to tab 17, as shown, which, instead of a button is provided with a button hole, whereas at the inner layer 16 there may be affixed a button for engaging said button hole of the tab, so that the button, when the cuff is folded, may then also be threaded through registering button holes provided at the opposite ends of inner and outer layers 15, 16, whereby also the French-type cuff may be held in closed position of wear.

In the embodiment shown the tab 17 extends from edge 15a of upper or outer layer 15 at one lateral extremity or end thereof and may be attached thereto between the strata 11, 12 and 13, as indicated at 17a. Instead of cut-outs or openings 21, 22, as shown, and defined by straight walls 21a, 21b and 22a, 22b, other means may be employed to maintain the layers 15 and 16 in registry through the agency of fabric tabs, rubber or yieldable ties means, cords and the like. The aforesaid openings or recess means 21, 22 may be dovetail shaped, so that the respective tabs or cords 27 are positively concealed and retained in such openings 30 (FIG. la) of the layers when they are placed in the position of wear (FIG. 4). If the tab or ties means are made of cord material, button 18 may be affixed to the outermost extremity thereof so that the cuff may be more readily buttoned, when the latter is transformed into its reversed position, as often required for a French-type cuff.

As indicated in the drawing, in particular in FIGS. 1 and 4, the strata 11, 12 and 13 may be held together by stitch lines a, 10b, 100, as it is known in the art. The rearward end 14a may be attached to the respective shirt sleeve in a well-known manner.

It can thus be seen, that there has been provided pursuant to this invention a cuff structure comprising an elongated body 10 with a longitudinal crease 14 to form thereby upper and lower layers 15, 16 which terminate in opposite lateral end edges 15a, 15b and 16a, 16b and in a front edge 14a located at said crease 14, a tab 17 fixed with its innermost end to and extending from lateral end edge 15a of said upper layer therebeyond which is provided with a button hole 19 located short of the opposite lateral end edge 15b. The tab 17 has an intermediate portion, which terminates in the outermost end and is further provided with means (e.g. button hole) so that the tab 17 spans by means of the intermediate portion the lateral end edges 16a, 16b of said lower or inner layer 16 to thereby maintain the latter in position relative to said lateral end edges 15a, 15b of said upper layer 15. A button 18 arranged at the outermost tab end comes to engage button hole 19 in the position of wear, as shown.

While a specific embodiment of the invention has been shown and described in detail to illustrate the application of the inventive principles, it will be understood that the invention may be embodied otherwise without departing from such principles.

What is claimed is:

l. A cuff structure for use in connection with sleeves for shirts, blouses and like wearing apparel, comprising a substantially flat cuff body of elongated shape having a longitudinal crease about which said body is foldable, so that a rounded front edge and an upper layer and lower layer in superposed position are obtained, each layer terminating in opposite lateral end edges adapted to be held together in registry when the cuff body is in the position of wear, a tab having an outermost end, an innermost end and an intermediate portion, the innermost end of the tab extending from one of the lateral end edges of said upper layer therebeyond and being provided with button means at the outermost end, means located adajcent the opposite lateral end edge of said upper layer and engageable by said button means, and engageable recess means forming parts of the lateral end edges of said lower layer for retaining the same through said intermediate tab portion substantially in registry with each other.

2. A structure according to claim 1, said upper layer presenting the outer surface of said cuff body, one portion of said outer surface located adjacent said tab being flat and imperforate adapted to receive and carry an ornament for exposure at said outer surface.

3. A structure according to claim 1, said engageable recess means at said opposite lateral end edges of said lower layer being openings each of sufiicient width to embrace the intermediate portion of said tab.

4. A French-type cuff structure having an elongated body with an outer and inner layer terminating in opposite lateral end edges and connected to each other by means of a crease forming the front edge of said body; comprising a tab fixed to and extending from one of said lateral end edges of said outer layer therebeyond and of sufficient extent adapted to span said lateral end edges of said inner layers only of said body and to engage same in the position of wear, and complementary securing means adapted to detachably connect said outer layer via said tab with said inner layer in said position of wear, one said securing means being a button hole provided in said outer layer and located adjacent the opposite lateral end edge thereof, said outer layer including a completely imperforate surface which is located adjacent said tab and adapted to carry an ornamentation, the other securing means forming a button coupled with said tab and threaded through said button hole in said position of wear.

5. A cuff structure of the French type having a body with an outer fabric layer, an inner fabric layer, a crease interconnecting said outer layer and said inner layer and forming the front edge of said body, said layers terminating, respectively, in opposite lateral end edges; comprising cord-shaped tie means fixed to one of the lateral end edges of said outer layer, complementary interengageable fastening means connected to said tie means and located in the proximity of the opposite lateral end edge of the outer layer, respectively, one of said complementary means forming a button, the other complementary means forming a button hole engaging said button in the position of wear of said body, and retaining means provided in and opening into the lateral end edges of said inner layer for enclosing a portion of said tie means in said cord-shaped position of wear, so that the end edges of both said layers are held in registry when in said position of wear.

6. A cuif structure according to claim 5, said retaining means being dove-tail shaped cut outs.

7. A cuif structure comprising an elongated body having a longitudinal crease with an upper layer and lower layer in superposed position, both said layers terminating in opposite lateral end edges and in a front edge located at said crease, a tab fixed to and extending from a lateral end edge of said upper layer therebeyond, said upper layer being provided with a button hole located short of the opposite lateral end edge of said upper layer, said lower layer being provided with recesses located in the proximity of the lateral end edges of said lower layer, said tab being of sufiicient length and provided with means at one end facilitating engagement with said button hole, so that said tab spans and is recessed with respect to the major portion of said lateral end edges of said lower layer for holding the latter and said lateral end edges of said upper layer in substantially opposed and end-to-end relation to each other and in barrel-fashioned conformation.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Sanders Oct. 9, 1962 Turner Jan. 17, 1882 Bevington Nov. 9, 1909 Karp Feb. 1, 1910 Thorman Mar. 7, 1916 Newman Sept. 11, 1917 Stackpole Apr. 8, 1919 Rolfe Nov. 30, 1920 Cragin Feb. 5, 19124 ONeill et al Feb. 19, 1924 Bostick Nov. 20, 1928 Grigsby Apr. 25, 1939 OMealia June 13, 1939 Markowitz Jan. 13, 1942 Stein June 16, 1953 FOREIGN PATENTS Great Britain of 1901 Switzerland June 17, 1935 

1. A CUFF STRUCTURE FOR USE IN CONNECTION WITH SLEEVES FOR SHIRTS, BLOUSES AND LIKE WEARING APPAREL, COMPRISING A SUBSTANTIALLY FLAT CUFF BODY OF ELONGATED SHAPE HAVING A LONGITUDINAL CREASE ABOUT WHICH SAID BODY IS FOLDABLE, SO THAT A ROUNDED FRONT EDGE AND AN UPPER LAYER AND LOWER LAYER IN SUPERPOSED POSITION ARE OBTAINED, EACH LAYER TERMINATING IN OPPOSITE LATERAL END EDGES ADAPTED TO BE HELD TOGETHER IN REGISTRY WHEN THE CUFF BODY IS IN THE POSITION OF WEAR, A TAB HAVING AN OUTERMOST END, AN INNERMOST END AND AN INTERMEDIATE PORTION, THE INNERMOST END OF THE TAB EXTENDING FROM ONE OF THE LATERAL END EDGES OF SAID UPPER LAYER THEREBEYOND AND BEING PROVIDED WITH BUTTON MEANS AT THE OUTERMOST END, MEANS LOCATED ADJACENT THE OPPOSITE LATERAL END EDGE OF SAID UPPER LAYER AND ENGAGEABLE BY SAID BUTTON MEANS, AND ENGAGEABLE RECESS MEANS FORMING PARTS OF THE LATERAL END EDGES OF SAID LOWER LAYER FOR RETAINING THE SAME THROUGH SAID INTERMEDIATE TAB PORTION SUBSTANTIALLY IN REGISTRY WITH EACH OTHER. 